Control the environment, not the child. No matter how often we hear that control is an illusion, high control individuals continue to perfect their craft at the expense of another's free will. People will respond better when their cooperation is solicited and they have input into a decision making process. Children that help create family rules can't complain when they break one that they helped to create. It's easier to provide tools such as timers and schedulers than to constantly complain about the impairment when it shows up as tardiness, oversleeping, or other delaying behaviors.

Comments

10/15/2008 11:49:02 AMSHELBY
said:

MY SON WOULD FIX IT TO WHERE THERE WOULD BE NO RULES IF I TRIED TO HAVE HIM HELP CREATE THE FAMILY RULES. I DO CONGRADULATE HIM WITH PRAISE WHEN HE DOES WELL. BUT, HAS A HARD TIME IN THE MORNING AND AT NIGHT TO DO THE ROUTINES WE HAVE ESTABLISHED FOR GETTING READY FOR SCHOOL AND BED.

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